Illuminated mirror



Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATED MIRROR Michael Tarasuk, Detroit, Mich. Application December "23, 1946, Serial No. 718,028

2 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel luminated mirror designed particularly, not exclusively, for handbag or pocket use.

The principal object of the invention is to ilbut provide a device of this character that can be conveniently carried on the person without undue'bulk, and that carries a cell and bulb adapted to illuminate the face of the user when de- "The cell and bulb are held within the hood by means of a frame which is so constructed as .to hold the end terminals of the bulb and cell in contact with each other. Moreover, the frame engages the other terminal of the bulb in electrical contact therewith. This other terminal, however, is normally out of contact with the other terminal of the cell to hold the circuit open while the bulb is in the non-exposed position relatively to therefiecting surface. When the hood is moved to bring the bulb in the exposed position, the said other terminal of the cellgis engaged by a contact member of the backing. The contact member is permanently in contact with the frame through the hood and backing,

so that the bulb circuit is completed when this contact engages said other contact of the cell in the exposed position of the bulb.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which: I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device: Figure 2 is a side view; Figure 3 is a front elevation of a modification showing the bulb exposed;

Figure 4 is a corresponding side view; Figures 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 5--5 and 6-5 of Figure 2; and

ure 1.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed ,to

designate corresponding parts throughout.

material. The backing is formed with a pairiof Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-! of Figstamped out wings 3 adapted to guide another member on the backing, as will presently appear. Above the wings a tongue or bridging contact 4 of inverted L-shape is stamped out for a purpose that will. presently appear. The horizontal leg of the member 4 is the contact portion, and the vertical leg that remains integral with the backing constitutes a resilient connection.

A hood 5, also preferably of conducting material, is slidably mounted on the backing 2 by means of a pair of inward flanges 6 formed on the longitudinal edges of the hood and engageable respectively beneath the wings 3. The flangesli terminate considerably short of the upper end of the hood, as shown, to permit the hood to be detached from the backing merely by sliding the hood downward on the backing.

The hood 5 is adaptedto contain a small cylindrical dry cell I and is of such length that a bulb 8 may stand upon the cell. In this position the end terminal .9 of the bulb rests on the end terminal I 0 of the cell. Themetallic casing I I of the cell constitutes its remaining or ground terminal, and a portion thereof is bared or exposed near the upper end as indicated by the numeral I2. 7 I 1 The terminals 9 and III' are maintained in mutual contact by means of a contact frame or stirrup. This member comprises a pair of parallel longitudinal elements I3 lengthwise of the cell, a foot I4 on which the bottom of the cell rests, and a split ring I5 at the upper end into which the screw base I8 of the bulb is threaded. The foot I 4 is insulated on its upper surfaceby any suitable means, such as a coating I9, in order not to make electrical contact with the lower end of the cell I.

The contact frame I3I5 with the bulb and cell assembled therein in the manner described is readily fitted in the hood 5, with the longitudinal elements I3 accommodated beneath the flanges 6. In practice there is metallic contact between the frame and the hood but this is immaterial since the frame becomes electrically connected to the backing 2 when the wings 3 are received snugly between the sides of the frame and the flanges 6. It now remains to connect the exposed portion I2 of the battery case to the backing in order to complete a circuit through the bulb 8.

When the ends of the hood 5 lie substantially at the ends of the backing 2, the exposed portion I2 is unengaged. In order to provide illumination, the hood is slid upwardto expose the bulb 8 over the upper edge of the mirror and backing. In this position the tongue or bridging contact 4 engages the exposed portion 12 to complete the circuit previously described. A lens 20 is fitted in the hood in front of the bulb for better projection of light to illuminate the face of the person looking into the mirror, and the interior of the hood may be silvered behind the bulb.

The embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is designed only to expose the bulb above the backing. The lower end 5 of the hood 5 is in a perpendicular plane, so that the user will know by feel which way to push the hood.

Another bridging tongue or contact 21 may formed beneath the wings 3 to be engaged by another bare spot 22 of the batterycase onpushing the hood 5 downward.v The bullet becomes illuminated in the manner described and is visible through a suitably shaped opening 23 through the mirror. device as a flashlight. .Both exposures of: the

bulb may be. provided for in a single device, as

in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and ,7, Ifonly the exposure through the hole 23 isdesired the contact 4 may be .eliminated and the pushing end of the hood made flat. For production purposes, however, both contacts 4, 2| -may be retained, although only one is used.

It is apparent that the device is particularly useful in dark places, inasmuch as the illuminated face of the user is visibly reflected inthe mirror. The mirror may be of'the size ordinarily carried in ladies handbags, and the hood with the cell and bulb therein adds very little bulk. Thus, the device may be carried in the same inanner as a conventional mirror of the same' area and is of course equally useful in daylight with the mirror body.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the de- This is another means of using the 4 tails of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An illuminated mirror comprising a backing, a reflecting surface at one side thereof, a hood slidable on the other side of said backing, a cell and bulb in said hood, each having two terminals, a terminal of the bulb being in contact with .a terminal of said cell, said backing and surface having an opening therethrough-positioned to expose said bulb, and means for bringing the other terminal of said bulb in contact with the other terminal of said cell on sliding said hood to expose said bulb.

2. An illuminated mirror comprising a backing, a reflecting surface at one side thereof, a hood slidable on the other side of said backing, a cell and bulb in said hood, each having two terminals, a terminal of the bulb being in contact withaterminal of said cell; said bulbbei-ng movable from a position behind said backing to a-n exposed position beyond an edge of said reflecting surface on sliding said hood in one direction, said backing and surface having an opening therethrough adapted'to expose the bulb on-sliding said hood in the other direction and means for bringing the-other terminal of said bulb in contact with the other terminal of said cell on sliding said hood to expose said bulbp MICHAEL TARASUK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 713,490 France Aug. 17,1931 

